Bar code blocking package

Container with barcode lock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a container carrier that facilitates proper scanning of a barcode and a method of forming a multipack using such a carrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

Conventional container carriers are frequently used to unify a plurality of containers of similar sizes, such as cans, bottles, jars, and similar boxes and / or containers. Flexible plastic ring carriers are a conventional container carrier of this class.

Such flexible plastic ring holders for cans and bottles may or may not have labels printed on the carrier. Often, it is desirable to add a universal product code (UPC) or "barcode" (the terms "UPC" and "barcode" are used interchangeably here) to the container to identify individual containers and to the carrier to identify the multi-container or multi-package container. Containers contained within the multipack that have been individually encoded with the barcode allow a barcode scanner or reader (terms used here interchangeably) to read product information, such as price.

The flexible plastic ring carriers can be used to unify groups of four, six, eight, twelve or other suitable groups of containers in a convenient multi-container. In such cases, it is preferable to block any barcode of the individual container. This will prevent the barcode for individual containers from being read instead or in addition to the barcode for the multipack. When such containers are placed inside a multipack such as a "six-pack", difficulties may arise if barcodes of containers with individual container information are scanned instead of container bar codes with information relevant to the container. multipack or package of six.

Conventional multipacks, such as six-packets, include containers that are positioned in random rotational orientations within the carrier. Each vessel generally includes an individual barcode that includes information, such as price, regarding the individual vessel. However, when the barcode is scanned for the individual container as the price of the multipack, problems may arise for the seller. Such problems primarily include charging a single container price for a multi-container container and any inventory control problems that may result.

As a result, it is desirable to ensure that the correct barcode is scanned for the correct container and / or multipack. More specifically, it may be desirable to block the barcodes of individual containers within a multipack with respect to the scanning process.

EP0677453A1 discloses a substantially transparent carrier according to the preamble of claim 1, arranged to prevent a barcode reader from reading a barcode in containers contained in the carrier.

According to the present invention, a carrier is provided for transporting an ordered grouping of containers in a corresponding ordered grouping of openings, each container of the plurality of containers including a barcode, the carrier comprising:

a sheet formed of a generally transparent plastic material and comprising an absorbent dye;

the sheet including the orderly grouping of openings to receive the plurality of containers so that, in use, the sheet blocks the barcode of the containers so that the barcodes cannot be read by a barcode reader, characterized why

The sheet further comprises a fluorescent dye.

A method of mounting a plurality of containers in the carrier of the present invention is also provided.

The carrier of the present invention, although traditionally generally transparent, also includes an absorbent dye and a fluorescent dye. The area of ​​the carrier that includes such colorants preferably extends throughout the entire carrier, but may alternatively extend through a center of the carrier or through or along any other suitable area of ​​the carrier.

Consequently, the plurality of containers are positioned in the carrier so that each barcode is

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locked by the carrier and / or the containers are oriented in a rotationally inner position towards a center of the container and preferably towards an area of ​​the carrier that includes the absorbent dye and the fluorescent dye. Alternatively, the containers can be rotatably oriented in the carrier in any other suitable manner such that it is less likely that a barcode scanner will read individual barcodes in the respective containers. The carrier area that includes the absorbent dye and the fluorescent dye preferably prevents any light from the barcode scanner from contacting and reading the barcodes of the individual containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other features and objects of this invention will be better understood by the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a multipack of containers mounted in a conventional manner with individual barcodes in random rotational orientations;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a typical barcode reader;

Figure 3 is a graph showing absorption curves of different red absorbing dyes and different fluorescence frequencies of two UV fluorescent dyes for use with preferred embodiments of this invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic view from above of a multipack similar to a container according to a preferred embodiment of this invention; and

Figure 5 is a side view of a multipack of containers according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a multipack of six containers 60 unified in a carrier to form a multipackage device. As shown, an outer face of each container 60 includes a machine-readable universal product code ("UPC"), here referred to as barcode 70, printed thereon. The barcode 70 of each individual container 60 allows this container 60 to be scanned by a barcode reader or scanner. When the bar code 70 of the container 60 is scanned by the bar code reader, information, such as the price, referring to the individual container 60 is retrieved from a computer connected with respect to the bar code reader. According to one embodiment Preferred of this invention, the bar code lines 70 are aligned in a generally horizontal orientation relative to the container 60.

As shown in Figure 1, a container of individual containers 60 comprises a unified group of containers 60 sold as a multipack. The unified containers 60 are generally randomly oriented so that each container 60 is positioned in a different and / or random rotational orientation within the carrier. The package may have a separate barcode (not shown in Figure 1) that allows information about the package to be retrieved, such as the price of the group of containers 60, when the separate barcode is scanned by the code reader of bars. This barcode of "container" Separately it can be printed on the outside of the package or otherwise fixed to the package with the aid of suitable means, such as adhesive.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a conventional scanner or barcode reader 100. Barcode reader 100 traditionally uses laser light beams that are optically displaced through barcode 70. In order to accept the broader range of configurations have been reported in the literature barcode readers 100 from wavelengths as low as 630 nm to 940 nm. Many 100 point-of-sale barcode readers fall in the range of 650 to 670 nm. The configuration of a typical barcode reader 100 from the point of sale is shown in Figure 2. The laser beam is displaced through the barcode 70 by moving the disk and / or the mirrors.

However, problems and failed scans may arise if the barcode reader 100 scans the barcode 70 of the individual containers 6 0 instead of the separate barcode from the package. Such failed scans can result in the price of a single container 60 being charged for a multi-container container.

Figure 4 shows a top view of a multipack 10 according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown, the multipack 10 can include a plurality of containers 60, such as cans. Although Figure 4 shows a preferred embodiment of this invention, in which each barcode 70 has been oriented towards a preferably inner position relative to the multipack 10, an alternative embodiment of this invention includes a carrier 15 applied in a suitable position on at least a portion of each respective barcode 70 such that a specific orientation is not required. Although cans are shown in Figure 4, bottles or any other commonly unified container can be used in the multipack 10 according to this invention. The containers 60 are preferably, but not necessarily, of the same size within

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single flexible carrier 15.

Each carrier 15 preferably includes a sheet having a width and length defining therein a plurality of container receiving openings 25, each for receiving a single container 60. The plurality of container receiving openings 25 are preferably arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse columns to form an orderly grouping of recipient receiving openings 25, such as two rows by three columns for a multi-container of six containers, two rows by six columns for one multipack of twelve containers, etc. The recipient openings 25 are preferably elongated in a longitudinal direction of the carrier 10.

The sheet and, therefore, the carrier 15 of the present invention are preferably substantially transparent and are made of a suitable plastic material, preferably generally transparent and preferably formed into extruded sheets, such as low to medium density polyethylene. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a light absorbing dye and a fluorescent dye are included in the sheet, either as an additive during the forming process, such as during extrusion, or after the process, such as with inks , tapes or similar applications after the process.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, red dyes that absorb light at approximately 670 nm are identified and used. Although traditionally referenced as an infrared absorber, such dyes are indeed visible light in the red region. Although various dyes absorb a significant amount of light in the appropriate waveband, such dyes do not consistently prevent a barcode reading 70. In addition, the removal of red light from the generally transparent plastic material has resulted in a defined blue imparted to the resulting carriers 15.

Color change to blue is generally undesirable, since bottlers, retailers and consumers generally prefer a neutral and / or generally transparent carrier 15. Color correction by means of additional dyes to absorb blue light is generally undesirable, since this solution could potentially result in a gray carrier, neutral in color, but with a global attenuation of the light transmission. Issues with color change, dye supply and the effectiveness of the UPC blocking effect have all contributed to the need for an alternative solution.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the fluorescent dye specifically comprises a UV fluorescent dye or similar additives that absorb light in the UV region of the spectrum and fluoresce in the visible region of the red spectrum and are desirable for use in relation to the sheet. Examples of desirable additives include KsantaTM Frog, which fluoresces at 600-630 nm, and Smartlight® RL 1000 from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, which fluoresces at 630-640 nm. These materials can produce red polyethylene films or sheets. Figure 3 shows absorption curves for different red absorbent dyes tested, the target range to be blocked and the fluorescence frequencies of two UV fluorescent dyes.

By combining the two dyes, the red absorbing dyes in the range of 660 to 680 nm and the UV fluorescent dyes that translate light into UV wavelengths to the range of 600-640 nm, the carrier 15 includes both a reinforced blocking effect of the red absorbent dye by the effect of red added to the film as a reinforced blocking of color change against the red absorbent dyes. By compensating for the loss of red by UV conversion to the wavelengths of red, the effect of "gray" is minimized. of the blue absorbers in the carrier 15, while the change of blue is counteracted by adding red instead of subtracting blue. This combination preferably blocks UPC scans of the barcode 70 of individual containers 70 and / or multi-containers 10, while maintaining a neutral color. Additional additives may be included within the carrier 15 comprising a third dye to fine tune a resulting color balance in the carrier 15, for example to minimize the "graying". of the carrier 15 and / or reinforce the translucency of the carrier 15.

As shown in Figure 4, the carrier 15 preferably includes a sheet having an absorbent dye and a fluorescent dye, such as a UV fluorescent dye, comprising an entire area 30 of the sheet. The preferred embodiment of the invention preferably results in that the absorbent dye, preferably the red absorbent dye, and the fluorescent dye are added during the manufacturing process of the sheet and / or the carrier 15. Such a process preferably includes mixing pelletized plastic with the appropriate dye additives before or during the extrusion process, extruding suitable sheet material and then punching such sheet material to form carriers 15. More preferably, the red absorbent dye and the fluorescent dye they are mixed with plastic material to form a combined particle that is then suitable for extrusion.

As shown in Figure 5, the carrier 15 is preferably applied around a side wall of each respective container 60. Thus, it preferably overlaps directly with at least one line of each bar code 70 of each container 60, preventing thus an effective scan by the barcode reader 100, even when the barcodes 70 are exposed along outer faces of the containers 60.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 5, the carrier 15 may include a section or partial area 30 that is treated or otherwise processed to include the absorbent dye and the fluorescent dye. Area 30

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it preferably comprises a material and / or a treatment that results in a portion of the sheet 20 that absorbs or reflects beams of light emitted from the barcode reader so that this barcode reader cannot read barcodes 70 in containers 60 that are covered or obscured, at least partially, by the carrier 15. As used here, the "area" 30 is defined as the whole or part of the carrier that includes a process, treatment, ingredient, characteristic and / or quality that does not allow light beams from a barcode reader 100 to pass through the carrier 15 and, therefore, , scan the barcode 70.

As described, the sheet is formed of a generally transparent material and includes an orderly grouping of container receiving openings. Area 30 preferably extends through the sheet to encompass the carrier 15 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 5, the area 30 may extend into the sheet through a center of the carrier 15 or above or below the sheet and between it. Thus, the area 30 may adhere in sections or strips to the sheet, such as with an adhesive; the area 30 can be applied to the sheet such as with a hot stamp, an ink or a paint; and / or area 30 can be manufactured within sheet 20, such as in a coextrusion process.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, in which the absorbent dye and the fluorescent dye mix homogeneously inside the sheet, containers 60 can be placed inside the carrier 15 without paying attention to the rotational orientation of the bar codes 70 in relation to to the multipack 10.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, as schematically shown in Figure 4, the plurality of containers are rotatably oriented in the corresponding ordered array of openings so that each barcode 70 is positioned so that a barcode reader can scan each barcode 70. Although the inclusion of the absorbent dye and the fluorescent dye may by itself prevent the barcode reader 100 from scanning the barcodes 70, such orientation can provide additional security.

Such an orientation may be more preferable in an embodiment in which a single area 30 of the sheet 20 that includes the absorbent dye and the fluorescent dye is arranged along a center of the carrier 15. As shown in Figure 5, each Bar code 70 is rotatably positioned in the direction of area 30 and a center of a resulting container 10. However, an opaque section 30 can be applied and / or intermittently positioned throughout the carrier 15 based on a desired location of the barcode 70 in the oriented containers 60. In any desirable configuration, each container 60 within the carrier 15 may be Rotationally oriented within the carrier 15 so that the bar code 70 is obstructed by an adjacent container 60 and / or by the carrier 15.

Various desirable methods of targeting individual containers 60 are taught by Arends et al., US Patent 6,484,478; Arends et al., US Patent 6,688,465; and Arends et al., US Patent 6,868,652.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a second barcode 80 (or "multipack code") can be positioned on the handle 90, as shown in Figure 5, or on another portion of the package 10. The second Bar code 80 may include information regarding the multipack, including new price and quantity information. The area 30 of the sheet thus provides a double task of blocking barcodes 70 of individual containers 60 and supporting the second barcode for multipack labeling.

According to a preferred method of the present invention, a carrier 15 having a plurality of container receiving openings 25 and a sheet provided with an area 30 of absorbent dye and fluorescent dye is provided for coupling with a plurality of containers 60. The containers 60 are then positioned within the carrier 15 and these can be further oriented so that the bar code 70 of each container 60 is blocked by adjacent containers 60 and / or by the area 30 of the carrier 15. As described in the patents of Arends et al., Each container 60 can be oriented before it is positioned inside the carrier 15, after the container 60 is positioned within the carrier 15 or with some combination of orientation of the containers 60 before and after its coupling with the carrier 15.

According to a desired embodiment of this invention, each container 60 is oriented before its coupling with the carrier 15 so that each bar code 70 looks towards a corresponding bar code 70 in a transversely adjacent container 60. The carrier 15 is then applied to a desired set of containers 60, resulting in a unified container 10.

Although this invention has been described in the foregoing report in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the carrier is susceptible to further embodiments and that some of The details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

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